1. Will any of the DCT modes provide a forceful upshift approaching the level of, for example, an E60 M5 SMG upshift in one of the more aggressive shift modes?

With tranny in S5 (or S6, for that matter) mode, the shift is has no slip - in cooler weather the tires will chirp in the 1-2 shift.

Cheers

Thanks. Understood. Since it sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about relative to SMG, how would you compare the sort of "kick" the DCT will provide versus SMG? Is it half as harsh? Is it more or less than that?

On Thursday I took delivery of my 2013 Space Gray Coupe with DCT. I REALLY like it!
Having had SMG and MT M3s in the past, I have to say it's the best transmission I've ever driven. I didn't believe the dealer when he said that the "auto" mode was fun too. He was right. I never drive a car in automatic mode, but this one is really responsive.
Happy guy.

Having had SMG and MT M3s in the past, I have to say it's the best transmission I've ever driven.

For me it's like Transmission 2.0 ... it's a completely new thing. I drive the car totally different from any car I've had and it makes manual transmissions feel antiquated.

There's no doubt that I still like the feel of a manual - there's a satisfaction in rows the gears and practicing heel/toe. For me that'll probably never go away.

But after a few months of driving this transmission I knew i'd never go back ... at least for my main car. Maybe if I get a "fun car" that I drive for old timey sake but ...

Driving a DCT M3 manually, once you get a few months in, is really a completely new car experience.

It's hard for me to see how 99% of drivers - if they drove this for a few months - wouldn't prefer it. Of course there's always the people that lie about what they prefer - they wear fuzzy slippers only when nobody is looking

They are almost identical to a manual transmission, less the whole two clutches thing. The commonly used term to decribe these is "automated manual" which is a perfect term becuase it is a manual and the clutching and lever pulling are automated. Don't forget you will be able to shift purely manually (no shifts except those to prevent stalling) where every shift is ONLY initiated by a paddle or the lever, OR put it in automatic mode which will behave practically like an automatic although lighter, smoother, more efficient, faster, etc.

I agree with this 100% well put!

In the period of just over 1 year I had 3 e92 cars (2011 MT car was slightly used, then a 2012 MT new an finally a 2011 new DCT). You might ask why change from a 2012 to a 2011, well the wife wanted to go from 2 cars to only 1 car, then changed her mind. Not that I care (for about four weeks the discussion was between my m3 or our dd and in the end I won to keep the m3 only change to the DCT since the wife does not touch a MT) so it's all good.

As for the transmission, I like both, only now I like the DCT better not because I am over 70 oh no I simply love the marvel of engineering and the smoothness of shifts as well as the options one has to use the stick, the paddles or leave it to the computer.

BTW ... Some posters here hint to the "elderly" to drive the DCT ... I can only say I drove my share of MT in my life, then let us be hornets, how many times did we shift into the wrong gear or even stall the car ... Let them ask the self that question .... I have a few times and I am not a shamed to admit it.

I owned a 6mt and drove a DCT as well, and similar to folks here, the DCT just didn't do it for me. It's without a doubt the DCT is the "better" transmission, but I felt the DCT simply made it too easy and less engaging. There's a certain driving satisfaction and visceral effect that comes from shifting on your own, and just getting that heel-toe just right before a turn, etc.

Choose the transmission *you* want. If you want to be more "involved/engaging" (whatever that means) and you think the 6MT will give you that then go for it. The car is full of electronics. If you feel the need to prove you are more of a man, turn DSC off instead of referencing the DCT as an "automatic".

My DCT at the track, think you can do this with a 6MT? Unless your name is Leh Keen, good luck.

A harsh "kick in the pants" upshift may give the illusion of high performance but in reality is about the last thing you should want a transmssiong to do as it will unsettle the car.

An ideal tranmission would shift geats instanly and smoothly and the closer that a transmission can approach that the the better it is,

CA

Actually DCT does both. In the more aggresive shift modes, you get that "kick" while upshifting. This is the transmission recuperating the inertia of the engine's RPM drop and transforming it in forward thrust. Essentially a power shift. So yes, better performance. If the sensors detect that the car is laterally loaded, DCT will do a butter smooth shift as to not upset the chassis (even in the more aggresive settings). This is only possible with the dual clutches as there is no interuption of power transmitted to the wheels. Impossible to do with a MT .

You might have a point here, however, it's just like golf you see the caddy hands you the the next club (provided he/she is a good one). So almost like the DCT the next gear is always selected and waiting ... What a fine piece of engineering.

The fellow without the good caddy selects his own club and as we all know that play the game ... At times the wrong one ... Lets admit it we all done it ... And end up in the sand trap or the woods.

So then like the one with the MT might shift into the wrong gear ... And stall even ... I've done it so have others they just don't like to admit it